Victoria Illustrated (1891)
Sehl-Hastie-Erskine Furniture Company, Limited
This corporation went into existence July 1st, 1891, from the combination of two of the largest furniture establishments in Victoria, namely, that of Jacob Sehl and Hastie & Erskine.
Jacob Sehl, who for so many years was established under his own name, is a native of Germany, and was in the gold mines of California for a period previous to this advent at Victoria in 1858. In the year 1861 he went into the furniture business, and when, in 1879, the tariff on furniture was raised from seventeen and a half to thirty-five per cent, he commenced manufacturing on the site of his present store premises.
The business increased so fast, however, that in 1884 he put up a large manufactory which, at the present time, employs some fifty-five men. The factory proper is 64 x 84 feet and is three stories high, being built of brick. There are smaller buildings, including a modern dry-kiln, while a wharehouse, adjoining, will soon be erected.
R. Erskine, of the company, is from County Antrim, in the North of Ireland, and came to Victoria nine years ago. James Hastie is from Seaforth, Ontario, whence he came about twelve years ago. In 1884 he went into the furniture business for himself and others. Mr. Erskine joined him three years ago.
The present company does a business at present of about $200,000 a year and fast increasining; so fast, in fact, that there are now orders six months ahead in the factory, which will, in consequence, have to be enlarged in the near future. While yet engaged, to a considerable extent, in the importation of certain lines of furniture, bric-a-brac, carpets, etc., they turn out at the factory all kinds of furniture, hardwood mantels, desks, office and bar fixtures, and in fact almost everything identified with the furniture line.
The store on Government street has a frontage of 45 feet with plate glass windows, while
the depth is 135 feet, with a rear on Langley street 86 1/2 feet wide. The display of goods
would do credit to many of the large Eastern cities, and the selection of goods is a fair
criterion of the taste and experience of the proprietors.
[Victoria Illustrated, p. 84.]
Victoria Illustrated. Published by Ellis &Co., "The Colonist," Victoria, B.C. 1891.